Busyness

My sweet friend sent me a text this afternoon.
It was a gorgeous fall day…sunny and warm.
The invitation was to come down and sit on her back porch and catch up.

The dilemma…wanting to do just that…but knowing what had to be done here at home.
Since I teach Bible study on Wednesday mornings, I try to keep the afternoon free.
Perhaps one of the women may want to linger and talk after study.
Perhaps a few may want to go out to lunch.

Today was different.
Today there was soup to be made…bread to bake…writing to be done.
There was time with my daughter to be had…to talk and catch up on her day.

My friend’s invitation was tempting.
Sit outside on a fall day with a friend.
As much as I wanted my answer to be yes…it had to be no.
No…with a rain check for another afternoon.

I sit here with the bread baked, the soup simmering, my daughter heard.
The writing is almost done.

When I pray, I find that I ask the Lord to help me not lose sight of Him in my busyness.
It is so easy to do.

We get distracted…called away from a task…detoured…frustrated.

Jesus knows exactly how we feel.
Everywhere Jesus went, He was met by the ever present crowd.
More often than not, they wanted something from Him…food…healing.
He graciously met their needs.

A man named Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with Him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. As Jesus was on His way, the crowds almost crushed Him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years but no one could heal her. She came up behind Him and touched the edge of His cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.
(Luke 8:41-44)

Jesus was often pulled away from the task at hand.
He was called to do other things…meet other needs.
He never seemed to be annoyed at the distractions.
He saw the distractions as opportunities.

I pondered something I read a while ago on a devotional desk calendar.
Lord, help me find beauty on the detour.
What a wonderful thing to desire.
Jesus made it His habit.

Jesus wanted to know who touched him, as He looked over the crowd.
The disciples said it would be impossible for Jesus to find the person.
Yet, Jesus knew the difference between curiosity seekers and true faith.

The woman came forward, trembling, and admitted that she had touched Him.
She told Jesus how she was instantly healed.
Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace. (Luke 8:48)
More than her physical healing took place that day.
There was spiritual healing…salvation…Jesus called her “daughter”.

Poor Jairus.
He has been waiting all this time.
It was his daughter Jesus was going to heal, in the first place…before this distraction.
Jesus knew that both situations were opportunities.

Opportunities for healing and restoration.
Opportunities for even more than that.
Opportunities to know Him better.

While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher any more.”
Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”
(Luke 8:49,50)

The distraction of the bleeding woman, was an opportunity for Jairus.
It was an opportunity to see Jesus heal someone.
It was a boost to Jairus’ own faith.

Jesus could heal sickness.
But his little girl was already dead.
Could Jesus do anything about that?

Jesus arrived at the home of Jairus and took Peter, James, and John with Him.
The professional mourners were there…paid to cry and wail. (Jeremiah 9:17)
Jesus and His disciples, along with the girl’s mother and father, entered her room.

“Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.”
They laughed at Him, knowing she was dead. But He took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” Her spirit returned and at once she stood up. (Luke 8:52-55)

What if Jesus had not stopped to heal the bleeding woman?
A woman would never hear, Daughter, your faith has healed you…your faith has saved you.

What if Jesus was too busy to go with Jairus to his home?
A little girl would not hear the call to wake up from the sleep of death.

What about us?
We get distracted…we get called away to other things.
Do we respond to distractions with frustrated annoyance or anticipatory joy?

I will never know if I missed an opportunity with my friend today.
I pray that I did not…and that the rain check will shower even more joy on our friendship.

Lord, help me find beauty on the detour.
Lord, in my busyness, help me not lose sight of You…and what You’re doing.
Help me to see distractions as opportunities for You.